Seal for containing-cases.



G. E. BEACH.

SEAL FOR CONTAINING GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 19 2 1,084,060. 1 Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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' G. E. BEACH.

SEAL FOB, CONTAINING GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1912.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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STATESFTENT UFFTCFZ.

CLARENCE n. BEACH, or BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE o. xnnrr,

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SEAL FOR CONTAINING-GASES.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. BEACH, of Binghamton, county of Brooms, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Seals for Containing- Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved means for sealing mechanism containing cases and particularly where actuating members extend to the exterior of the case from mechanism at the interior thereof, as for example fire alarm movement containing cases in which fire alarm mechanism is installed and actuating members such as pull levers and winding shafts extend to the exterior through openings in the cover. Such fire alarm mechanism is usually of a more or less delicate construction and its correct operation is very essential. If dirt, dust or in sects can have access to the case interior and to the mechanism therein, the perfect operation of the mechanism might be seriously interfered With.

The main object of my invention is, therefore, to provide improved sealing means for sealing the engagement of the cover with the case body and to effectively seal the openings in the cover about the actuating members extending therethrough.

Another object is to provide such construction and arrangement of sealing means that the free and eflicient operation of the actuating members will not be interfered with; another object is to provide sealing means in the form of separable attachments which can be readily removed or applied at will.

Another object is to provide spring actuated sealing means which will accommodate itself to various conditions to maintain perfect sealing conditions at all times.

The various features of the invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a case adapted for containing fire alarm mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view looking from the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing particularly the sealing arrangement for the pull lever; Fig. l is a similar view with parts in diametrical section; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the sealing attachment for the pull lever, Fig. 6 is a view looking from the top of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view showing particularly Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 4, 1912.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 701,697.

the sealing arrangement for the winding shaft; and Fig. 8 is a similar view with parts shown in diametrical section.

The containing structure for the fire alarm mechanism comprises a rectangular case 10 and a cover 11, which cover may be of any suitable material but which is preferably in the form of a glass plate. To hold the cover securely in place, supporting angle plates 12 and 13 are secured at the lower corners of the base 10 and project a distance beyond the front edge of the case to form seating pockets for the lower corners of the cover. Secured to the upper and lower walls of the case are clamping springs 14!; and 15 whose upper ends have respectively the clamping heads 16 and 17, the inner faces of these heads being inclined so that the spring may be readily deflected outwardly upon application of the cover to be brought into position below the heads. To seal the engagement of the cover with the edge of the case suitable sealing material 18 such as felt is interposed, this material being compressed upon application of the cover to the case to prevent entrance of dust, dirt, insects, etc., and also to provide a uniform seating for the glass cover to prevent straining thereof.

The fire alarm mechanism within the case usually has a pull lever and a winding shaft extending to the exterior so that the box can be pulled or winding thereof effected without the necessity of removing the cover. As shown, the cover 11 has the opening 19 through which the pull lever 20 extends and the opening 21 through which the winding shaft 22 extends. These openings must, of course, be somewhat larger than the mechanism parts extending therethrough so as to enable these parts to be freely actuated and operated. The opening 19 is vertically elongated so as to allow the pull lever to be swung to control pulling of the box, and the opening 21 is circular and of sufficient diameter to allow ready application of the winding key to the squared. end of the winding shaft. Unless the openings 19 and 91 are suitably protected and sealed, dust dirt and insects will enter and might seriously interfere with the proper operation of the alarm mechanism.

In Figs. 3 to 6 the sealing mechanism and arrangement for the pull mechanism opening is clearly shown. The pull lever shown comprises a stem 3 extending through the longitudinal passageway h in the post p, the pull lever stem being pivoted on a pin t secured in the post, the inner end of the stem being disposed with relation to the alarm mechanism within the box in a well known manner so that a pull on the outer end of the lever will result in setting of the alarm mechanism for operation. The sealing mechanism is in the form of an attachment A which can be readily applied to seal the opening 19 about the pull lever extending therethrough. The attachment comprises an annular body part 23 preferably of sheet metal to whose front face is secured a sealing washer 2% of suitable material such as felt, the opening 24; of this washer receiving the stem of the pull lever project-ing through the opening 19. To securely clamp the washer against the inner face of the cover 11 the body part 23 has diametrically opposite curved spring extensions 25 and 26, having transversely extending arcuate ends 27 and 28 whose curvature will fit the cylindrical post p and which have the openings 27 and 28 for receiving the projecting ends of the pivot pin Z. The curved extensions 25 and 26 are normally expanded and the ends thereof are closer together than the diameter of the post 22. Before the cover 11 is ap plied to the case the sealing attachment is slipped into position on post p, the ends 27 and 28 spreading and receiving the ends of pin 23 so that the attachment is then firmly held in place. Upon such application of the sealing attachment, the insulating cap 20 of the pull lever structure is removed from the supporting stem 20 so that the stem can readily pass through the opening in the sealing washer. V hen the cover is now applied and clamped into place below the clamping spring, ends 16 and 17 and springextensions 25 and 26 will be compressed and the sealing washer will be firmly clamped between the attachment body part 23 and the cover. If the washer is of felt or rubber or similar material, the edges adjacent the opening 2a will snugly hug the pull lever stem and will maintain such engagement during actuation of the pull lever and thus perfect sealing is assured. The washer is preferably permanently secured to the body part 23 of the spring frame and, as shown in Fig. 6 holes 29 may be punched through the body part so that the washer may be sewed thereto.

In Figs. 7 and S is shown an efficient form of sealing arrangement for the winding shaft opening, A sheet metal disk 30 has the central opening 30forreceivingthe winding shaft and is secured thereto by the washer 31 of suitable material such as felt or rubber, this washer having the central opening 31 for receiving the shaft. In order to firmly clamp the washer against the cover when the cover is applied, a compression spring 32 may be slipped onto the shaft to interpose between the disk 30 and the frame part 33 of the mechanism within the box. The edge of the washer opening will always be held snugly against the winding shaft and efficient sealing is thus assured.

I thus provide efiicient sealing arrangement for guarding against the entrance of dust, dirt, insects, etc., into an inclosing structure where actuating parts extend to the exterior through openings in the walls of the structure.

The sealing attachments shown are particularly adaptable in connection with a pull lever and a winding shaft but it is evident that with slight modification such sealing attachments may be adapted to be associated with other mechanism. The attachments are readily removable and can be readily applied as desired and owing to the spring arrangement the sealing washers will be effectively clamped to the wall and will be snugly held about the mechanism parts projecting through the openings in the walls. The washer is sufficiently pliable and elastic to maintain sealing engagement with the actuating member during its movement.

I do not, of course, desire to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown, as changes and modifications can be made which will still come within the scope of the invention and I claim the following:

1. In sealing mechanism, the combination of a sealing -member, a backing for said sealing member, spring loops on said back ing, and arcuate transverse clips at the ends of said loops for engaging with suitable abutments.

2. In sealing mechanism, the combination of a sealing member, a backing for said sealing member, spring loops extending from said backing, transverse arcuate clips at the ends of said loops, said clips being perforated and adapted for engagement with a circular abutment surface.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, this 28th day of May A. D. 1912.

CLARENCE E. BEACH.

Witnesses H. F. Hermon, H. N. PURPLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

